What Surrounds Us review highlights a circular puzzle adventure

A What Surrounds Us review by The Verge describes an indie game built around one visual idea: circles. Jay Peters writes that the design is more than a style choice, because the game uses its shapes to support themes about connection with the world and the creatures around the player.

The game casts the player as a ring-shaped character with an empty center, which Peters compares visually to a frosted doughnut. Other moving, sentient circles appear throughout the world, and the player sometimes helps them connect with one another.

What is What Surrounds Us about?

What Surrounds Us is an exploration-and-puzzle game set on a broad map made from circular spaces, according to The Verge. Peters says the player crosses three separate regions, solves modest environmental puzzles and gains abilities that open new routes.

One of those powers lets the player build up energy for a long jump across gaps. Later, Peters writes, the game introduces a glitch-like substance that winds through parts of the world and regularly cuts off paths.

The Verge’s review says the structure gave Peters reminders of The Legend of Zelda, even though the game’s look is far more abstract. That comparison came from moving through regions, finding ways past obstacles and using new tools to reach places that were previously inaccessible.

How does the game teach players?

Peters says What Surrounds Us gives players little direct explanation. The review notes that the game uses almost no text and only a small number of on-screen control prompts.

That sparse approach means the player has to learn by roaming, testing tools and watching how the world reacts, according to The Verge. Peters points to one discovery in particular: using a ping near a dark circle can create fresh paths through the map.

The review frames that lack of instruction as part of the experience rather than a flaw. Peters says the familiar adventure-game structure helped him get comfortable with a game that otherwise asks players to figure out its rules through experimentation.

Why are circles so central to What Surrounds Us?

The circular imagery runs through the character, other beings and the map itself, The Verge reports. Peters writes that the repetition reinforces the game’s interest in how the player relates to the environment and to other objects or creatures nearby.

That gives What Surrounds Us a clear visual identity while keeping its play format recognizable. Based on The Verge’s review, the game pairs abstract presentation with straightforward exploration, light puzzles and ability-based progression.

This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.